Hotel Industry News

PhocusWire's in-depth coverage of the hotel sector, featuring news, analysis, interviews, research and more on B&Bs, hotels, guesthouses and other property types.

The hotel sector is undergoing significant transformation, powered by new technologies, evolving guest expectations, and a renewed focus on direct booking and operational efficiency. PhocusWire delivers the latest hotel industry news, covering the strategies and innovations shaping the future of global hospitality.

Hotel chain developments, hospitality trends, and market shifts

Stay updated on how hotel brands are expanding, restructuring, and embracing digital platforms to elevate the guest experience. From contactless check-in and AI-powered pricing to loyalty evolution and branded residential offerings, our coverage tracks the industry’s response to changing demand and competitive pressure.

startups-coronavirus-decisions
News / Startups
Confronted by crisis, travel startups weigh difficult - and personal - decisions
By Jill Menze | March 24, 2020
Not only are startups equipped with fewer resources, funds and time, but also, the close-knit nature of their workforces means that even one shift within the company is often felt by all. Read More
cloudbeds-coronavirus-platform
News / Online
New platform helps hoteliers offer beds for coronavirus-related needs
By Mitra Sorrells | March 24, 2020
Cloudbeds has created a platform to connect government and medical authorities with hoteliers willing to provide rooms. Read More
Expedia will refund hotel guests during COVID-19 outbreak regardless of existing booking policy
News / Distribution
Expedia will refund hotel guests during COVID-19 outbreak regardless of existing booking policy
March 23, 2020
The operator of accommodation booking sites including Expedia, Hotels.com, Hotwire and others says it was facing an "unprecedented volume of calls" from travelers asking for help with non-refundable... Read More
Sabre makes $200M in cuts to offset coronavirus impact
News / Distribution
Sabre makes $200M in cuts to offset coronavirus impact
By Kevin May | March 20, 2020
The cuts range from offering voluntary unpaid leave, severance and early retirement to staff across the world to scaling back its third-party contracting and vendor costs. Read More
pruvo seed funding
News / Technology
Hospitality startup Pruvo closes $1.1M seed round amid coronavirus outbreak
By Steven Lerner | March 20, 2020
In the face of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, an artificial intelligence-driven hospitality startup has secured a $1.1 million seed round. Read More
InPhocus, episode 2 - In the midst of a crisis we can rethink the rules
News / Distribution
InPhocus, episode 2 - In the midst of a crisis we can rethink the rules
By PhocusWire | March 19, 2020
Before the usual conversations about business, many discussions have inevitably started with asking how a person's family, city or country is fairing under the outbreak of the coronavirus. Read More
Corporate travel on the front line of global incidents
News / Online
Corporate travel on the front line of global incidents
By Linda Fox | March 18, 2020
The corporate travel industry has to deal with an increasing volume of incidents related to weather, terrorism - and now health - that impact travel. Read More
Q&A: Trip.com Group's Jane Sun on weathering the coronavirus storm in China
News / Online
Q&A: Trip.com Group's Jane Sun on weathering the coronavirus storm in China
By Yeoh Siew Hoon - WebInTravel | March 18, 2020
The travel giant's boss talks about the measures taken to get the company through the storm – pay cuts, cancellations guarantees, remote work and providing the right information to customers – and what... Read More
The coronavirus effect: How travel brands should adjust ad spend
Opinion / Online
The coronavirus effect: How travel brands should adjust ad spend
By Koddi | March 18, 2020
Here are insights and recommendations as to how travel brands should be thinking about their spending patterns in light of the ever-evolving coronavirus situation. Read More
WEBINAR REPLAY! Why we book: Unpacking travel loyalty
News / Online
WEBINAR REPLAY! Why we book: Unpacking travel loyalty
By PhocusWire | March 17, 2020
Considering the top 25% of travelers generate 77% of travel revenue, having a loyal customer base is critical if you are in the travel business. Read More
Looking beyond the coronavirus chicane to accelerate growth for travel
From Our Partners / Technology
Looking beyond the coronavirus chicane to accelerate growth for travel
By Apurva Chamaria - RateGain. | March 16, 2020
This is not the first time in this century that the travel and tourism industry is at the center of a crisis and has to deal with losses and have to adapt and survive. Read More
"Nothing will be the same": How Italian hoteliers are coping with coronavirus fallout
News / Distribution
"Nothing will be the same": How Italian hoteliers are coping with coronavirus fallout
By Mitra Sorrells | March 16, 2020
Giancarlo Carniani - Phocuswright analyst, hotelier and president of the hotel association in Florence, Italy - explains why hoteliers are "furious" at Booking.com and why the hospitality industry will... Read More
Coronavirus and economic uncertainty: Technology strategies hoteliers should evaluate to weather the storm
Opinion / Technology
Coronavirus and economic uncertainty: Technology strategies hoteliers should evaluate to weather the storm
By Matt Melymuka and Andrew Bartusiak - PeakSpan Capital | March 16, 2020
As operational budgets come under increasing scrutiny and hoteliers are forced to cut spending in various areas, forward-thinking organizations should consider increasing investment in strategic... Read More
Sounding Off: All that talk about being brilliant communicators should be real
Interview / Online
Sounding Off: All that talk about being brilliant communicators should be real
March 13, 2020
Now that marketing is all over the place for a few months, communications has to be the channel that travel brands focus their efforts on. Read More
Will the coronavirus outbreak force hotels to adapt to new technologies quicker?
Opinion / Technology
Will the coronavirus outbreak force hotels to adapt to new technologies quicker?
By Gregor Amon - Hotel Data Cloud | March 13, 2020
When it comes to hotels, you can bet that hotel owners and managers are reeling, trying to come up with a plan to address coronavirus, but more importantly, to have strategies to recoup their losses... Read More
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